Fastest way to remove line of hedges?

[JDeereman]

I would think it would depend on the variety of bush, shrub, or tree, the age of them, and how much root system they have. I never owned a backhoe, but I've removed some with the FEL. And for the last ones I removed (for my daughter and son-in-law), there were only 3 shrubs, one of which was dead. And I simply threw a good rope, doubled, around the base of them, one at a time, looped the other end of the rope on the hitch ball and pulled them out with my little Ford Ranger pickup.

The thing that really surprised me was that my son-in-law decided to transplant the two that were not dead. I thought he was just going to trash them, and I certainly did not expect them to survive after the way I pulled them, but much to my surprise, they've done just fine.

I wouldn't describe this hedge as a shrub or shrubs. it is one long continuous wall. I don't know where one stump will end and the next one begin. never had to do anything like this before. funny but I have a similar shrub story to yours wherein a shrub that was supposed to be trashed ended up getting replanted when it came out pretty much intact. women are real funny that way.

Theo

 

[JDeereman]

Last year we removed a hedge, just pushed them all over with the front loader bucket just an inch above my mothers lawn
I pushed about 3 yard at a time before throwing them on the loader bucket manually (to leave the dirt where its supposed to be) and then dumped them on the dump trailer with the loader.

If you attach a piece of I beam to the bucket, you can probably just plough them up in 1 go.

Interesting. did you mow them down right in a row? or perpendicular to the row? sounds like the root system didn't put up much of a fight! that's good!

Theo

 

[JDeereman]

If they are cedar they will not be that deeply rooted and can be pulled out with a chain or pushed out with the bucket low on the stems. Wild rose, lilacs, spirea and dogwood will usually succumb to the same treatment but are a little more stubborn. (don't ask me how I know ). Maybe your son can try puling them with a truck and chain before you transport all the big guns

It's an awful long hedge to pull with a chain one stump at a time. that's fine for the occasional shrub, but this long hedge would take forever and break my back (or son's back?) with the chain the root approach. he doesn't have a truck either just a car.

Theo

 

[MrJimi]

When you get around to doing this, leave the whole bush together and wrap a chain around it so it will tighten/choker style and make real sure that you loosen the bush first, otherwise it will be like an anchor in the ground.. And soak the ground really good and they should come out easier. Just think of a dentist pulling a tooth, he will cut around it then rock it then stand on your chest then pull it out.
You have your work cut out for you and take plenty of pictures, we love pictures here..

 

[JDeereman]

When you get around to doing this, leave the whole bush together and wrap a chain around it so it will tighten/choker style and make real sure that you loosen the bush first, otherwise it will be like an anchor in the ground.. And soak the ground really good and they should come out easier. Just think of a dentist pulling a tooth, he will cut around it then rock it then stand on your chest then pull it out.
You have your work cut out for you and take plenty of pictures, we love pictures here..

And just to be clear (since I am getting awfully confused by all the chain recommendations) this is the approach you would take on a 200 foot long hedge?

Theo

 

[MrJimi]

And just to be clear (since I am getting awfully confused by all the chain recommendations) this is the approach you would take on a 200 foot long hedge?

Theo

Small bites Really, you'll see and it will not be easy at all, peck at it a little bit at a time and it will come out.
The chain part is easy, go around the base two times and hook it tight and it may want to slip up but keep at it. I like using a strong rope or a nylon strap for that in a choking set up, it will have to tighten as you pull to do any good.
A helper is a must and maybe two and take your time.
Thats how I used to do it when I lived in Biddeford,Maine

 

[JDeereman]

Small bites Really, you'll see and it will not be easy at all, peck at it a little bit at a time and it will come out.
The chain part is easy, go around the base two times and hook it tight and it may want to slip up but keep at it. I like using a strong rope or a nylon strap for that in a choking set up, it will have to tighten as you pull to do any good.
A helper is a must and maybe two and take your time.
Thats how I used to do it when I lived in Biddeford,Maine

Okay, I get the message. leave the tractor home, bring the truck and bring a nice strong chain. I'll let you know how it goes!

Theo

 

[MrJimi]

Okay, I get the message. leave the tractor home, bring the truck and bring a nice strong chain. I'll let you know how it goes!

Theo

How much lift strength does your tractor have? These small bushes/shrubs will act like they are cemented to the ground, you will need to either dig around them and rock them to allow them to come out.
My Case 1845 C has 3,500 pounds of lift and that is not enough to pull a 3 inch tree out of Florida sand. The first few will teach you heaps and most of all be very careful doing this. Now if you had a tree bucket like I built it would be much easier for you. Picture of tree bucket HERE .

 

[studor]

The nice thing about having the tractor would be the ability to "push" them out with the fel. The chain trick on 200 feet of them will be a chore but you might be able to get more than one at a time. Might as well take the tractor -- you will have to fill in the holes after you pull them out
Good luck

 

[cddva]

Mini-ex with a thumb gets my vote for this job.